Thread: This conversation REALLY happened - no enhancement required

Originally Posted by burraboy

What are they listed as in the catalogue? My humble efforts have failed to find them therein.

http://www.thewoodworks.com.au/index...nufacturer_id=

Originally Posted by Handyjack

...and the difference is?

Tube is listed by OD, pipe is listed by ID.
I dont blame the bloke in the shop getting a bit short. First he is asked for tube with an ID in imperial (half inch) with any variance in metric (a mil either way). He tries to explain the difference between pipe and tube to no avail and then gets ridiculed for being less than charming.

Originally Posted by rustynail

I dont blame the bloke in the shop getting a bit short. First he is asked for tube with an ID in imperial (half inch) with any variance in metric (a mil either way).

Well thats your opinion, but -

The online catalog gave all the dimensions in imperial as OD's. That was therefore the logical starting point. I suppose that I could have said a smidgen either way rather than a millimetre, but then millimetres are part of our country's official measuring system where as smidgens AND, for that matter, inches are not.

Originally Posted by rustynail

He tries to explain the difference between pipe and tube to no avail

He made no such attempt. Neither of us uttered the word pipe. The point was that the catalog only mentioned the outside diameter. Tube may be sold by the OD but it actually HAS an ID, which can be calculated if you know the OD and the wall thickness, which he knew and I did not and had no other way of finding out other than asking him. THe point was that regardless of the dimension that the product is sold by, in this case it was wanted by a customer who was more concerned with another dimension which was easily calculated from info he had readily available.

Originally Posted by rustynail

and then gets ridiculed for being less than charming.

Now remembering that I discovered part-way through the conversation that he was on his way out of the door when I rang (on a day he claimed to always be open on) I think he just wanted to get me off the phone and get on his way once he found out it was only a small order. He then chose an untenable position to take to try to make out that he had nothing suitable so that I would go away. He should have just said he was out of stock and I would have thought nothing more of it. Instead he continued to maintain that a tube doesn't have an inside diameter if it is not written on the packaging.

Whichever way you look at it both tubes and pipes have both ID's and OD's, regardless of what measurement is used to identify them under the standards, and if a customer wants a product surely the business can make just a little effort to help out if they already have the necessary information - if they really want the sale.

Cheers

Doug

Originally Posted by DJ's Timber

http://www.thewoodworks.com.au/index...nufacturer_id=

Ah.. I was searching for ferrules in the plural rather than the singular!

I'm thinking these would be easy but not cost effective.
George White | Australia's leading stockist & distributor of non-ferrous metals - Product List

I guess they are specified by bore size x OD x length. Although it could be bore x length first, but I think the first scenario is more likely.

George White | Australia's leading stockist & distributor of non-ferrous metals - Product List

Outside Diametre

Wall Thickness

Kg/Metre

12.700 mm	0.710 mm	0.230 kg/m
12.700 mm	0.910 mm	0.282 kg/m
12.700 mm	1.220 mm	0.375 kg/m
12.700 mm	1.630 mm	0.482 kg/m
12.700 mm	2.030 mm	0.581 kg/m

George White are usually the most expensive cats in town, and can sometimes be difficult to deal with but usually have whatever your after. If nothing else they are a good benchmark.


Highett Metals are another option. They stock both new brass and buy and sell scrap metal of which you can buy as new lengths from if they have it when your there.
Brass Suppliers Melbourne | Brass Alloys - 385, 352, 360, 377 and 486 - Highett Metal

Originally Posted by doug3030

Well thats your opinion, but -

The online catalog gave all the dimensions in imperial as OD's. That was therefore the logical starting point. I suppose that I could have said a smidgen either way rather than a millimetre, but then millimetres are part of our country's official measuring system where as smidgens AND, for that matter, inches are not.




He made no such attempt. Neither of us uttered the word pipe. The point was that the catalog only mentioned the outside diameter. Tube may be sold by the OD but it actually HAS an ID, which can be calculated if you know the OD and the wall thickness, which he knew and I did not and had no other way of finding out other than asking him. THe point was that regardless of the dimension that the product is sold by, in this case it was wanted by a customer who was more concerned with another dimension which was easily calculated from info he had readily available.



Now remembering that I discovered part-way through the conversation that he was on his way out of the door when I rang (on a day he claimed to always be open on) I think he just wanted to get me off the phone and get on his way once he found out it was only a small order. He then chose an untenable position to take to try to make out that he had nothing suitable so that I would go away. He should have just said he was out of stock and I would have thought nothing more of it. Instead he continued to maintain that a tube doesn't have an inside diameter if it is not written on the packaging.

Whichever way you look at it both tubes and pipes have both ID's and OD's, regardless of what measurement is used to identify them under the standards, and if a customer wants a product surely the business can make just a little effort to help out if they already have the necessary information - if they really want the sale.

Cheers

Doug

I guess the customer is always right.

Originally Posted by Sawdust Maker

That story is right up there with anything Monty Python ever did!

No, It's better!

My ferrules have arrived.

They have an ID of approximately half an inch. They really do have an ID even though they are made of brass TUBE.

They also have an OD but I could not be bothered measuring it. It looks ok. Thats all that bothers me about the OD on this particular project.

They came from a forumite who saw this thread and contacted me by PM. He cut them to length and deburred them and posted them to me for a very reasonable price, saving me from having to drive around town probably spending the same amount in petrol and then having to cut them myself. I am very happy with what I got. I wont identify the person as he arranged it all privately by PM but he is free to identify himself if he wants to. Either way, thanks Mate.

Cheers

Doug

Great resolution Doug. This Mr. Anon is quite a benevolent person, well done Anon

Originally Posted by Scott

Great resolution Doug. This Mr. Anon is quite a benevolent person, well done Anon

The generosity of some of the member on here with time, materials, and knowledge is fantastic!

Doug did you get my message about the other brass bits, etc and catching up? I'll be at the forum stand at the wood show also first up Sunday morning.

My question would be why were you buying it?
Given the short peices you need, a trip to the skip of the nearest building site would get you all you need and more.
Oh and by brass, I assume you mean copper - my brother has been a plumber for almost 30 years, I've seen brass fittings by the ute load but only ever copper pipe?

Originally Posted by smidsy

Oh and by brass, I assume you mean copper

And by "timber" I assume you mean "chipboard"?

No, if I meant copper I would have said copper.

Does copper have an ID or an OD?

Regardless of which it is sold by, your standard copper plumbing pipe has an ID that is too small for what I wanted.

In the end, I got a product that is better for the job than the one I was negotiating with "Mr Cheese Shop" for, with the added bonus of being cheaper and already cut to length and deburred and saved me petrol and time.

I am happy with the outcome

Cheers

Doug

Originally Posted by doug3030

I am happy with the outcome

Now are you sure you're happy? I mean there was no argument (5 minute or otherwise) about whether or not there's a measurable ID. There didn't even seem to be any plain old contradiction.

Think you better send them back.

Originally Posted by FenceFurniture

I mean there was no argument (5 minute or otherwise)

I told you! I am not going to argue unless you pay.

Doug